Library /sys$common/syshlp/dbg$help.hlb DEBUG, Language Support, CC, Scalar Variables  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    You can specify scalar variables of any C type in debugger
    commands exactly as you would specify them in the source code
    of the program.

    The following paragraphs provide additional information about
    char variables and pointers.

    The char variables are interpreted by the debugger as byte
    integers, not ASCII characters. To display the contents of a char
    variable ch as a character, you must use the /ASCII qualifier:

    DBG> EXAMINE/ASCII ch
    SCALARS\main\ch:      "A"

    You also must use the /ASCII qualifier when depositing into
    a char variable, to translate the byte integer into its ASCII
    equivalent. For example:

    DBG> DEPOSIT/ASCII ch = 'z'
    DBG> EXAMINE/ASCII ch
    SCALARS\main\ch:        "z"

    The following example shows use of pointer syntax with the
    EXAMINE command. Assume the following declarations and
    assignments:

    static long li  = 790374270;
    static int *ptr = &li;

    DBG> EXAMINE *ptr
    *SCALARS\main\ptr:       790374270